Apricot tree named &#39;suaprieleven&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct apricot,  Prunus armeniaca  cv. ‘Suaprieleven’ is characterized by having large fruit (averaging approximately 60 mm in diameter) with an orange ground color and abundant red blush. The fruit of the new variety has a thick, slightly tart skin, a slight aroma, and moderate juiciness. The new variety ‘Suaprieleven’ ripens very early in the season.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES CLAIMED

Prunus armeniaca

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Suaprieleven’

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apricot tree, herein after referred to by the cultivar name ‘Suaprieleven.’ The new variety was first originated by hybridized in April 2009 by Terry A. Bacon as breeder number: ‘AP1036’.

The new variety is characterized by having large fruit (averaging approximately 60 mm in diameter) with an orange ground color and abundant red blush. The fruit of the new variety has a thick, slightly tart skin, a slight aroma, and moderate juiciness. The fruit of the new variety ‘Suaprieleven’ ripens very early in the season. Harvesting of ‘Suaprieleven’ takes place approximately nine days earlier than ‘Suaprinine’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,507) and the fruit ripens about the same time as ‘Poppy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,593).

The seed parent is ‘Suaprinine’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,507), and the pollen parent is unknown, coming from a bulk of 8 pollen parents. The parent varieties were first crossed in February 2005, with the date of first sowing being February 2006, and the date of first flowering being February 2009. The new apricot variety ‘Suaprieleven’ was first asexually propagated by Terry Bacon near Wasco, Kern County, Calif. in April 2010 by grafting.

The new variety ‘Suaprieleven’ can be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘Suaprinine’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,507) in that the harvest of the fruit of the new variety ‘Suaprieleven’ starts nine days earlier.

The new variety ‘Suaprieleven’ has an orange ground color and abundant red blush compared to a greenish-straw colored background with only slight blush for ‘Poppy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,593).

The new variety ‘Suaprieleven’ has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, grafting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new apricot variety ‘Suaprieleven’. The illustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, a view of the fruit as a whole, and a sectional view of a fruit divided across its suture plane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout this specification color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color as used in common speech is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon the R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 1986.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to 3 year old ‘Suaprieleven’ plants grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County, Calif., during 2013 and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

-   Tree:     -   -   General.—(measurements taken on a 3 year old tree unless             otherwise noted). Tree Size: Medium. Normal for most apricot             varieties. Reaches a height of about 3.5 meters with normal             pruning. Spread: 3 meters. Tree Vigor: Medium. Growth of             approximately 1.8 to approximately 2 meters height the first             growing season. Tree Growth: Semi-upright spreading. Tree             Productivity: Productive. Tree Form: Vase formed. Bearer:             Regular. Fertility: Unknown. Tree Canopy Density: Medium.             Pruning is required to open tree vase shape, allowing more             sunlight to center of tree. Tree Hardiness: Hardy in all             fruit growing areas of California. Winter chilling             requirement is approximately 350 hours at or below 7.2° C.             Tree Disease Resistance/Susceptibility: No specific testing             for plant disease resistance/susceptibility has been             undertaken. Under close observation in Wasco, Kern County,             California, no particular plant/fruit disease             resistance/susceptibility has been observed.         -   Trunk.—(measurements at 30 cm above soil line). Trunk             Diameter: Approximately 19 cm. Trunk Texture: Smooth to             slightly shaggy. Trunk Color: About Medium Greyed-Green 197D             in exposed areas to Dark Greyed-Orange 166A in recesses,             becoming darker with age.         -   Branches.—(measurements at approximately 90 cm above soil             line). Branch Diameter: Approximately 8 cm. Branch Texture:             Smooth on 1^(st) year wood, increasing roughness with tree             age. Branch Color: Branches vary from about Medium             Greyed-Green 197D to Medium Greyed-Green 197B in exposed             areas and Medium Greyed-Orange 165B in recesses. Branch             Lenticels: Few Size: Medium. Density (no./cm²): Variable,             about 5. Color: About Dark Greyed-White 156A. Typical size:             Approximately 4 mm in length and approximately 2 mm wide.         -   Flowering shoots.—(Data taken in July at midpoint of             current-season growth. Color and sizes described may vary             due to differences in sunlight, vigor and temperatures.).             Flowering Shoot Size: Average diameter: approximately 8 mm.             Flowering Shoot Color: Topside: About Dark Greyed-Orange             165A. Underside: About Dark Greyed-Orange 165A. Flowering             Shoot Lenticels: Size: Medium. Color: About Dark             Greyed-White 156A. Diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm. Flowering             Shoot Leaf Buds: Shape: Ovoid. Width: Approximately 1.5 mm.             Length: Approximately 2 mm. Color: About Dark Greyed-Orange             165A. Flowering Shoot Flower Buds: Shape: Elongated ovoid.             Width: Approximately 1.5 mm. Length: Approximately 4 mm.             Color: About Dark Greyed-Orange 165A. Number: Usually 2.             Internode Length: Medium and variable, approximately 1-4 cm             midway on flowering shoots. Density of Buds: Medium.             Distribution: Generally isolated on spurs and one year old             shoots and older wood. Ration of Wood (leaf) Bud to             Flowering Shoots: 1/2. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaves.—(Data taken in July on fully expanded leaf at             midpoint of current-season growth. Color and sizes described             may vary due to differences in sunlight, vigor and             temperatures). Leaf Size; Medium. Length: Medium,             approximately 6.5 cm. Width: Medium, approximately 5.5 cm.             Leaf Thickness: Medium. Leaf Color: Upper surface: About             Dark Green 139A. Lower surface: About Medium Green 139C.             Leaf Form: Circular. Leaf Tip: Cuspidate. Leaf Base:             U-shaped. Leaf Margin: Crenate. Venation: Pinately net             veined. Vein Color: About Medium Green 139C. Leaf Surface             Texture: Smooth. Leaf Blade (ration length/width): Small.             Shape in Cross Section: Flat. Angle at Apex: Medium.             Profile: Flat. Leaf Blade Tip: Curved downwardly. Angle of             Tip: Acute. Undulation of Margin: Slight.         -   Petiole.—Length: Medium, approximately 25 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1 mm. Color: About from Medium Green 139C to             Dark Greyed-Purple 184A.         -   Stipules.—Number/Leaf Bud: Approximately 0 to 2. Typical             Length: Approximately 3 mm. Color: About Medium Green 139C.             Persistence: Fall off.         -   Glands.—Form: Globose. Number: Approximately 2 to 5.             Position: On petiole. Size: Medium, approximately 0.6 mm.             Color: About Dark Greyed-Orange 165A. -   Flowers:     -   -   General.—First Bloom: February 12. Location of First bloom:             Upper portion of the canopy. Full Bloom: February 16.             Location of Full bloom: Middle of the canopy. Time of Bloom:             Early. Duration of Bloom: Medium, about 14 days. Diameter of             Fully Open Flower: Medium, Approximately 28mm. Flower Aroma:             Very slight. Shape: Rosaceous.         -   Peduncle.—Length: Medium, approximately 3 mm. Diameter:             Medium, approximately 2 mm. Color: About Light Yellow-Green             145C, with highlights of about Medium Red 46D. Pubescence:             Absent.         -   Petals.—Number: 5. Arrangement: Overlapping. Length:             Approximately 13 mm. Diameter: Approximately 10 mm. Shape:             Circular. Apex shape: Rounded. Base shape: Narrows at point             of attachment. Color: Inner Surface: About Light Red 36D.             Outer Surface: About Light Red 36D. Surface texture: Smooth.             Margins: Smooth and slightly undulating. Frequency of             Flowers with Double Petals: None. Margin Waviness: Weak.             Base Angle: Wide. Pubescence of Inner Surface: Absent.             Pubescence of Outer Surface: Absent.         -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Length: Approximately 6 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 4.5 mm. Shape: Broad ovate. Color: About             Medium Red 42B. Surface Texture: Smooth. Margins: Smooth,             entire. Positioning: Adpressed to petals. Pubescence of             Inner Surface: Absent. Pubescence of Outer Surface: Absent.             Frequency of Flowers with Double Sepals: None.         -   Stamens.—Number: Approximately 18 to 25. Length:             Approximately 12 mm. Filament Color: About White 155A.             Anther Color: About Medium Yellow 14C. Pollen Color: About             Medium Yellow 14C. Position: Perigynous.         -   Pistil.—Number: Usually one. Average Length: Approximately             8 mm. Ovary Diameter: Approximately 3 mm. Pubescence:             Medium. Stigma Extension in Comparison to Anthers: Below             with anthers. Frequency of Supplementary Pistils: Few.         -   Receptacle.—Depth: Medium, approximately 4 mm. Pubescence of             Inner Surface (at pink bud stage): Absent. Pubescence of             Outer Surface: Absent. -   Fruit: Data taken at firm-ripe on mature tree managed to obtain     maximum quality under conditions stated in Description of Variety.     Timing, colors and sizes described may vary due to differences in     sunlight, vigor and temperatures.     -   -   General.—Fruit Harvest: Date of First Pick: Approximately             April 28. Date of Last Pick: Approximately May 8. Date of             Description: Approximately May 2. Maturity when Described:             Firm. Season Ripening: Very early. Position of Maximum             Diameter: Towards the middle. Symmetry About the Suture:             Nearly symmetrical.         -   Fruit size.—Length (stem end to apex): Approximately 60 mm.             Diameter in Line with Suture Plane: Approximately 55 mm.             Diameter Perpendicular to Suture Plane: Approximately 55 mm.             Average Weight: Approximately 65 gm.         -   Fruit form.—Viewed from Apex: Round, nearly symmetric.             Viewed from Side, Facing Suture: Rounded-elongated, nearly             symmetric. Viewed from Side, Perpendicular to Suture:             Rounded, slightly asymmetric.         -   Fruit apex shape.—Rounded, slightly indented at tip.         -   Fruit stem cavity.—Shape: Rounded. Depth: Medium,             approximately 1 cm. Breadth: Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Fruit stem.—Length: Medium, Approximately 8 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 2 mm. Color: About Medium Green 143C.             Adherence to Stone: Strong.         -   Fruit skin.—Thickness: Medium. Adherence to Flesh: Medium.             Surface texture: Smooth to slightly irregular. Pubescence:             Moderate to scant, short, does not need roll up when rubbed.             Bloom: Slight. Ground Color: About Light Orange-Red 31D.             Overcolor: About Medium Red 41A. Taste: Slightly tart.             Reticulation: Slight. Tendency to Crack: Slight, in wet             season.         -   Fruit flesh.—Ripens: Evenly. Texture: Melting. Fibers: Few.             Flavor: Mild. Brix: Approximately 14°. Juice: Moderate.             Aroma: Slight. Color: About Medium Red 41D. Anthocyanin             Color under Skin: Absent. Anthocyanin Color of Flesh:             Absent. Anthocyanin Color around Stone: Absent. Acidity:             Medium. Sugar Content: Fair. Eating Quality: Fair.             Stone/Flesh ratio: 4 g/65 g. Firmness: Medium.         -   Pit cavity size.—Length: Approximately 30 mm. Diameter in             Line with Suture Plane: Approximately 20 mm. Diameter             Perpendicular to Suture Plane: Approximately 12 mm. Color:             About Medium Red 41D.         -   Fruit use.—Fresh market.         -   Fruit shipping/keeping quality.—Medium.         -   Stone.—Stone Freeness: Cling, over entire surface. Degree of             Adherence to Flesh: Strong. Size: Medium. Size Compared to             Fruit: Small. Length: Medium, approximately 30 mm. Diameter             in Line with Suture Plane: Approximately 20 mm. Diameter             Perpendicular to Suture Plane: Approximately 10 mm. Angle of             Stalk End: Obtuse. Stone Form (viewedfrom side): Broadly             elliptical. Stone Form (viewedfrom stem end): Oval. Stone             Form (viewed from ventral end): Flattened. Stone Base Shape:             Nearly straight. Stone Apex Shape: Narrow towards apex.             Hilum: Narrow. Stone Surface: Slightly pitted with a few             ridges extending the length. Stone Halves: Nearly equal.             Stone Ridges: Continuous. Stone Outgrowing Keel: Partly             developed. Stone Tendency to Split: Rare. Stone Color: About             Medium Greyed-Orange 176C. Position of Maximum: Middle.             Sides: Nearly equal. Pits: Shallow, irregular. Fibers:             Retains short fiber-like threads along the ridges. Ventrical             Edge: Thin with slight wing towards middle. Dorsal Edge:             Medium, continuous. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apricot tree named ‘Suaprieleven’ as herein illustrated and described. 